Finally our waiting is over and we light the Christ Candle. We hear of how the Holy One came to us, as one of us, and our souls are renewed. After carols and readings, we light our candles and together sing ‘Silent night, Holy night, All is calm, All is bright’. Invite family and friends!
There is free parking along the neighbouring streets and in the public lot behind the church off Queen Street. During the service, a nursery is offered for children three years and younger. All welcome.
Two of the peal of nine bells in the tower of St. Andrew’s Church Kingston.
A hour of praise for the whole family. On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we cannot contain our celebration – we will sing hymns like ‘Go tell it on the mountain’ and ‘Joy to the world’. And in story and interpretative dance Lindsay, Olivia and Crystal will prepare us for Christmas by pointing to the witness of the bells.
Have a look at the Order of Service below, and join us! (It is also our White Gift collection – if you are able, for the women seeking shelter at Interval House, bring a gift card from Shoppers, Food Basics, Dollarama … in a white envelope)
There is a nursery for infants and young children up to three years. There is free parking along the streets around and in the public lot behind the church just off Queen Street.
And after the service, you are invited to linger for a congregational lunch in St. Andrew’s Hall!
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Have a look at our minister’s monthly newsletter, and join us as you are able through this festive season of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany!
(It is set up as a trip-fold paper brochure, so you must scroll through perhaps for it to make some sense!)
Music is part of being the people of God. After escaping from the Egyptians and crossing the Red Sea, Miriam took up the tambourine and the people of Israel sang a song to the Lord. Think of the David the shepherd with his harp, and the psalms that still give voice to our souls. Think of the priests in the temple of old. These days I place myself beside Mary singing God’s praise (Luke 1:46-55). Music is part of being Christian, and it certainly part of our celebrations of the birth of Christ, of Christmas.
Join us this Sunday for a service of music – beginning with a by-request hymn sing at 10:10 a..m., followed by carols of Advent and Christmas for all, and contributions by the St. Andrew’s Choir and Bell Choir, interspersed with readings of scripture. There is ample parking available free on surrounding streets and in a public lot just behind the church off Queen Street. During the service there is a nursery offered for infants 3 years and younger, and a programme for children.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
You call all people to walk in your light
and to seek your ways of justice and peace,
for the night is past, and the dawn of your coming is near.
Bless us as we light the first candle of this wreath.
Rouse us from sleep,
that we may be ready to greet our Lord when he comes
and welcome him into our hearts and homes,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever.
Join us for the first Sunday of Advent. There is a nursery for children three and younger, and a programme for older children during the service, if they wish. There is free parking available along the streets around and in the public surface lot behind the church off Queen Street. Have an advance peek at the Order of Service, and the announcements that follow. Welcome, in the name of Christ!
This morning we will take time to count our blessings, and give thanks.
We give thanks for the blessings of … living in a corner of creation wondrous and a city beautiful … friends and strangers and family who accompany us along this journey … the promise that our lives are of origin and destiny, and that we are loved with a love that will not let us go … the church that binds us not only to each other but to God.
And this Sunday, even as we also welcome new members, we will hear about yet another blessing. It is a blessing we hear about from Paul, who apparently quoted Jesus – ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35).
It sounds counter-intuitive and is certainly counter-cultural. As I continue to ponder its meaning in Christ, I am helped by a story told by Eugene Peterson in his book ‘Run with the Horses’.
Peterson tells how he saw some birds teaching their young to fly. Three young swallows were perched on a dead branch that stretched out over a lake. “One adult swallow got alongside the chicks and started shoving them out toward the end of the branch—pushing, pushing, pushing. The end one fell off. Somewhere between the branch and the water below, the wings started working and the fledgling was off on his own. Then the second one. The third one, however, was not to be bullied. At the last possible moment, his grip on the branch loosened just enough so that he swung downward, then tightened again, bulldog tenacious. The parent pecked at the desperately clinging talons until it was more painful for the chick to hang on than risk the insecurities of flying. The grip was released and the wings began pumping. The mature swallow knew what the chick did not—that it would fly—that there was no danger in making it do what it was designed to do.” Peterson writes, “Birds have feet and can walk. Birds have talons and can grasp a branch securely. They can walk; they can cling. But flying is their characteristic action and not until they fly are they living at their best, gracefully and beautifully. Giving is what we do best. It is the air into which we were born. It is the action that was designed into us before our birth.”
You are invited to join us in counting our blessings, and considering even more blessing! A nursery is available for infants and preschoolers up to 3, as is a church school programme during the service for children who prefer not to stay in the sanctuary. There is free parking on the streets about, and in a public lot behind the church off Queen Street. Have a look at the order of service, and join us!
